Professor Andrea Nolan, OBE FRSE, Principal & Vice-Chancellor of Edinburgh Napier University & Convenor of the Universities Scotland Research & Knowledge Exchange Committee, delivered a warm welcome to guests at the Launch of the 2015 Converge Challenge. Before a back-drop of Scotland as an 'innovation nation' with a world-class higher education system, she lauded Converge Challenge for identifying and celebrating the entrepreneurial talent within the Scottish University sector.
Speaking about the need to turn this talent into sustainable economic growth, she pointed to the levels of activity already going on across Scottish campuses, including the fact that Scotland has the highest level of spin-out companies in the UK.
Professor Nolan emphasised the importance of an entrepreneurial ecosystem in which all elements work together and strengthen each other. This helps not only partners such as Converge Challenge but also delivers benefits to those seeking support, as in most cases a budding entrepreneur will receive help from many different sources.
It is key for Scottish schools and universities to foster the entrepreneurial spirit in young people by embedding innovation and enterprise in teaching, by providing incubator space and by partnering up with support organisations, such as Converge Challenge. But above all, and as a value in its own right, Professor Nolan stressed that students need to be educated in an environment that develops curiosity, confidence, creativity and ambition.
